• Order an espresso, macchiato, lungo, or ristretto—never an Americano or instant coffee.

• Drink cappuccino in the morning, never in the afternoon.

• Eat the spaghetti whole; never cut it.

• Don’t use a spoon to help you eat spaghetti.

• Eat the pasta al dente (firm).
  Don’t order bread to go with the pasta.

• Eat pizza with your hands.

• Dress your pizza with olive oil and peperoncino.

• Dress your salads with salt, pepper, oil, balsamic vinegar, or lemon.

• Don’t ask for grated cheese with seafood dishes.

• Thinking that Italians only eat pizza and pasta is a myth.

   

• Never order spaghetti Bolognese because it doesn’t exist in restaurants.

• Never ask for a box to take your leftovers home.

• Enjoy a gelato in the afternoon.

• Take into account potential factors when planning your travel itinerary, such as the weather, holidays, and vacation periods.
• The farther north you go, the colder and rainier it gets starting in September; it is recommended to visit Italy in the fall.
• In Italy, summers are very hot, and Italians flock to the beaches or mountains during the month of August, especially starting on August 15—a national holiday celebrating the Feast of the Assumption and Ferragosto.
• Check the festival schedules for the cities you plan to visit; with a bit of luck, you might be able to catch Umbria Jazz, Eurochocolate, the Festival of Two Worlds, or the Palios of Siena and Arezzo.
• Book tours well in advance using the highly recommended Civitatis app.

• Air
  -From Rome to any domestic or international destination.
• Ground—Rail: Trenitalia is the leading railway operator, offering high-speed trains as well as commuter, regional, domestic, and international connections.
  -Stations
  -Rome Termini (central station)
  -Rome Tiburtina
  -Leonardo Express: a direct train from Fiumicino Airport to Rome Termini, costing approximately €14.50.
  -Buying tickets in advance lowers the cost.
  – Using ticket vending machines is faster than buying at the ticket window.
  – Do not accept help from strangers when buying tickets at the machines; it is very easy, and the instructions are in several languages.
  – Stamp your ticket at the machines to validate it before boarding the train.
  – Failure to validate your ticket may result in a hefty fine from the railway authorities.
  – Do not cross the yellow line.
  .

• 

Metro
– The Rome Metro consists of three lines: A, B, and C.
– Line A runs through the city from northwest to southeast; its terminal stations are Battistini and Anagina.
– Line B runs through the city from northwest to south; its terminal stations are Rebibbia and Laurentina.
– Line C serves the eastern suburbs of the city; its terminal stations are Pantano and San Giovanni.
– Keep your ticket, as there are turnstiles at metro stations where you must insert your ticket to enter and exit the station.

• Italy boasts a wide variety of cuisines, with each region having its own signature dish, based on the healthy Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes the consumption of grains, vegetables, legumes, fruits, oils, milk, fish, and meat in moderation.
  Must-try Italian dishes include: pasta with its delicious ragù sauces (tomato, sun-dried tomato, wild boar, truffle, porcini mushroom, carbonara, and amatriciana), risotto, and pizza.
  -Cheeses: Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, pecorino, mozzarella, ricotta, etc.
  -Drinks: Aperol, lemon spritz, negroni, local wines, and coffee in all its varieties.
  -Typical regional desserts: Gelato, tiramisu, cannoli, sfogliatelle, cantucci, and panna cotta, among others.
  In Italy, restaurants are also known as trattorias, osterias, tavola calda, enotecas, and pizzerias. It’s worth noting that in the vast majority of Italian towns, they close from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.
  Let yourself be surprised by delicious regional Italian street food.
  -Piadina: A thin, round, baked flatbread filled with cheese, cold cuts, and vegetables (Emilia-Romagna).
  -Porchetta: Roast pork seasoned with salt and herbs, larded with garlic, rosemary, fennel, and fine herbs. Served in slices on crispy bread (Rome and Umbria).
  -Pesce Fritto Al Cono: Fried fresh fish, shrimp, and squid. Seasoned with a touch of lemon, served in paper cones (some Italian ports).
  -Zeppole: A traditional dessert (Naples).
  -Stigghiola: Charcoal-grilled lamb or chicken intestines, rinsed in salted water, and seasoned with parsley, onion, and herbs (Palermo).
  -Panelle: A type of fried chickpea fritter, similar to falafel (Sicily).
  -Arancini: Crispy, golden rice balls stuffed with cream, ground meat, cheese, and peas, and coated in cream (Sicily).
  -Lampredotto:
  Chopped beef tripe, simmered in tomato broth with fine herbs. Served on a platter or plate, topped with green sauce and Parmesan (Florence).
  -Panzerotti: Half-moon-shaped bread filled with cheese and tomato. A delicious street food, similar to a calzone (Puglia).
  -Olive All’ascolana: Fried breaded olives stuffed with seasoned ground meat and Parmesan cheese. Served in paper cones (Le Marche).
  -Torta Al Testo: An unsalted flatbread, filled with cold cuts and vegetables (Perugia).
  -Pani Ca Meusa: A sandwich made with finely chopped veal lung and spleen (Palermo).
  Local markets offer a wide variety of typical regional dishes.
  If you enjoy cooking, the markets offer fresh, top-quality produce.
  Another option for grocery shopping is convenience stores such as Conad, Coop, and Sapori d’Intorno.

• Tours

• It’s a good idea to book the city tour two days after your arrival, so you’ll have recovered from jet lag in time to enjoy it.

• Every city offers free walking tours (it’s customary to tip the guide 5 euros).

• Book a walking tour in your language.

• Search for historical and culinary walking tours.